image source, Reuters
«They are the colors of the sponsors; there is nothing scandalous,» the cyclists defended their uniform.
The Colombian cycling team IDRD-Bogotá Humana-San Mateo-Solgar does not plan to change its uniform, despite the fact that it was described as «unacceptable» by the president of the International Cycling Union for allegedly giving the impression of nudity.
“They are the colors of the sponsors; there is nothing scandalous. The effect is produced by the light, but we wear it with pride and there has been no thought of changing it,” said Angie Rojas, the runner who was in charge of designing the suit, upon her return to Bogotá.
And the sponsors of the team supported her.
The outfit, which mixes the red and yellow of the Bogotá flag with beige details on the belly and lower abdomen of the cyclists, was used by a women’s team from the South American capital in the recently concluded Giro de la Toscana.
And the impression of apparent semi-nudity created by the uniform placed Colombian female cyclists at the center of a media firestorm.
«It’s not transparent»
Upon their return to the Colombian capital, however, the runners offered a press conference in which they said they saw no reason to change their outfit.
“Some saw it badly, but you have realized that it is only the scandal. The uniform is not transparent at all,” said Angélica Lozano, another member of the team.
“Here in the team there are mothers of families, people who sacrifice themselves for the sport, who love cycling and who have clear objectives and not really being the protagonists of a scandal like that. We were surprised by what happened, very astonished, but we are calm,» added Rojas, in statements collected by the newspaper El Tiempo.
The team’s main sponsors, for their part, said they would support any decision the riders make.
While the Bogotá Cycling League, responsible for the team, reported that the uniform would be sent to the International Cycling Union for analysis, insisting that the controversy had been created by some photographs in which the light showed «what the mind want to see».